Re: Shooting Interviews

Interview subjects are people, and most people have something that they do which they are not aware of doing, such as twirling a piece of hair, scratching their neck, rubbing their hands together, touching their face, slapping their hand against their chest right where the mic is attached - all of which can ruin a perfectly good take, but when you mention it they don't know what you are talking about.

Also, avoid swiveling chairs - people will twist, turn and rock.

If conducting the interview yourself as both interviewer and camera operator, try to maintain as much eye contact as possible with the subject. If there is an extra warm body available, you can use them for the eye-line, although this can be confusing to the subject also "you want me to answer your questions but look at my secretary?!?!?!?"

As Mark said, put the subject at ease. If it is not a politician or an actor, a tv interview will be a new concept. Most lay people never notice that tv interviews have the person looking off camera. "You mean you don't want me looking at the camera?"

Keep it going.

Mike Cohen